The Texas Longhorns football program is in freefall, and ESPN’s Paul Finebaum is done with head coach Steve Sarkisian.
Texas appeared to be back (for real) after defeating then-No. 1 Ohio State and supplanting them as the nation’s top team. However, after barely surviving against Tennessee, Oklahoma took them down last week, and Florida beat them at home on Saturday. As a result, Texas will spend the rest of the season fighting to make its case for the College Football Playoff.
To no one’s surprise, Finebaum quickly pinned the Florida loss and the program’s losing streak on Sarkisian.
“What a disaster. The absolute arrogance of [Steve] Sarkisian to crack back at people like me and others with the idiotic take of the year that if his [Manning’s] name was Joe Smith, you would be praising him,” Finebaum said on TheMatt Barrie Show. “I’m beginning to wonder if Arch Manning should even start. I know he will, and he’s capable of leading them to a win, but I blame Sarkisian for every aspect of this.”
Finebaum then went in on Sark’s play-calling and how his need to do it has hampered quarterback Arch Manning and the Texas offense.
“We both have been incredibly high on Sumrall, and all the haters out there came after us when they fell apart,” Finebaum continued. “But I think he showed yesterday what he is capable of. I wish I could say the same thing about Steve Sarkisian, someone I’ve always liked and respected. And until last week called an elite play caller. He’s not. I have no earthly idea what Steve Sarkisian is doing. I think we all agree he shouldn’t be calling the plays. There’s too many other things going on in that sideline that are distracting, and he has made an absolute mess out of the most talented team in the country.”
The longtime SEC voice then turned his attention to the quarterback with the legendary last name, whose regression has been hard to miss. Finebaum went so far as to say the Manning scion may regret playing for Sark at Texas.
“I know he will, and he’s capable of leading them to a win, but I blame Sarkisian for every aspect of this. And I’m not in that locker room, and I’m not on that practice field. All I can do is that I watch the games like you do, and the rest of America. And this is on you, Sarkisian,” said Finebaum. “It’s terrible. It’s embarrassing what you’ve done to Arch Manning. And I wonder if he’s going to regret the day that he went to play for Steve Sarkisian.”
It doesn’t get any easier for the Longhorns as the No. 7 Ole Miss Rebels come to town next Saturday. If Texas loses its third-straight game, Finebaum’s criticisms might be the least of their concerns.
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